Page 50 of Blueberry Cake
Unbeknownst to Queenie, Camila’s eyes darted to her belly as she crossed the room to the couch. Clearly her parents didn’t know about her stance on children, but that was a conversation for a different day.
He sat next to Queenie, who took his hand straight away. She’d insisted on doing most of the talking. “I didn’t want to tell you at first because I know how upset you would be, but Boyd thought we should be honest with you.”
Sobering, Christopher set his cup of coffee aside and Camila visibly paled. “What happened?”
“When I told you how I knew Boyd, I left out that hisson used to bully me in high school.” Christopher opened his mouth, but Queenie silenced him with a stern look. “Don’t. It’s still my turn.”
Camila supported her daughter. “Let her finish, sweetheart.”
“Boyd had no idea who I was when we met.”
“We didn’t know…” Camila trailed off.
“No one did. I never told anyone.”
Boyd chose that moment to speak up. “And had I been aware, I would have shut it down quickly.”
Queenie turned her gaze to him and softly ran her thumb over his knuckles. “I know you would have.”
“What did he do?” Christopher growled.
Queenie ducked her gaze into her lap. “He called me names.” But they both knew that wouldn’t suffice. “He took my homework, handing it in as his own, or to watch me beg for him not to ruin it.”
Now Boyd was the one struggling to keep his emotions in check. That was news to him. He forced his fingers to relax versus ramming his fist into the nearest wall. He couldn’t stop himself from picturing his sweet Queenie asking—begging—Luka not to destroy her hard work. For the first time in his life, Boyd had no idea what he would do when he saw his son again.
Christopher ground his teeth, equally as angry. “The calls we got for late homework—that was him?”
Queenie still hung her head. “Yes.”
Christopher rose to an intimidating height, his eyes flickering between them. “You should have told us! We would have protected you and we definitely wouldn’t have let this man into our home!”
“Dad, stop! I hid it just as much from you as I did fromBoyd. In fact, this was his idea. I didn’t want to tell you for this reason. It all happened a long time ago and has nothing to do with Boyd.”
“That monster is his son!”
“And the second he even thinks about disrespecting Queenie again, I will set him straight. She willnotbe suffering the same behaviour under my roof. I don’t care if he is my son, he’ll face serious consequences if I even see one cross look.”
“Dad, please sit,” Queenie pleaded.
Instead, Christopher stormed out of the room. One thundering footstep after another vibrated the floors before a door shut somewhere in the house.
Queenie stood too, obviously hurt. “I told you this wasn’t good.”
“Queenie,” Boyd hummed, getting to his feet and wrapping an arm around her to pull her close. “It was the right thing to do. They deserve to know and as a father, I understand how he feels. He’s allowed to be upset that his only daughter got hurt.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter, it was my parenting that led to this. I should have paid more attention.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
“And you’re so strong for doing so.”
She sighed and movement behind them reminded them both that Camila was still in the room. “He just needs time.”
Queenie took the empty seat next to her mother. “Please don’t be upset with Boyd.”
“I can’t say that I’m not, but it doesn’t escape me that he’s treating you so well right now. Relationships are complicated and you two have clearly figured this outbetween yourselves. I accept that, and your father will learn to do the same.”
